Newsletter V24-N1 - Virginia Herpetological Society

Transcription

Virginia Herpetological
Society Newsletter
Volume 24, Number 1
March 2014
Contents
VHS Business …..…………...…..........................
Events….....…………………………………………
Herp Trivia ………………………………..............
News ………………………………........................
Zoo Updates………………………………………..
Conservation Key……………….........................
New Book………………………………………….
Virginia Literature ………………………………....
Herpcetera………………………………………….
Trivia Answers ……………….............................
Virginia Native ……………………………............
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6
8
10
14
18
20
21
22
24
26
See
Page 11
This monTh’s Virginia
NativePage
26!
Page 3!
What VA Snakes
Eat Turkey?
Herp Trivia
Page 8!
Spotted Salamander
Send in your photos
for the VHS 2015
Calendar!
See page 5!
Meet VHS new officers!!! Page 2!
Home Page:
Online Store:
Facebook Page:
http://www.vaherpsociety.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/vaherpsociety
http://www.facebook.com/vaherpsociety
Newsletter Editor:Susan Watson
newsletter@vaherpsociety.com
Virginia Herpetological Society Newsletter
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Coming Events
EVENT
LOCATION
DATES
VHS Annual Spring Survey & Meeting
Buckingham County, James River State Park
May 16-18
2015 Calendar Submissions
Merchandise@vaherpsociety.com
Aug 31
VHS Business
VHSBUS
VHS Business
VHS New Officers (1
VHS Annual Spring Meeting & Survey (2
Canebrake Rattlesnake Blitz (3
VHS Website Updates (4
NEED Photos for 2015 VHS Calendar!!! (5
REMINDERS! (6
1) VHS New Officers
Please welcome the newly elected officers of VHS, as voted in during the VHS Annual Fall Meeting back on
October 5, 2013!
A big welcome back is in order for Kory Steele as our current VHS President, returning to this position after being
in it during the 2009-2011 term.
A big welcome to our new face in the VHS Executive Committee goes to Mike Salotti, who
was elected as our current VHS Vice President. Mike found out about VHS and became a
member three years ago, when he decided to start posting pictures of native wildlife for
followers to identify on the Virginia State Parks (VSP) Facebook page. As an employee for
VSP, in the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Mike makes it a personal
goal to use the VSP Facebook page to spread awareness and information about native
herpetofauna. Since they are often the most misunderstood animals. So far, he has
attended two surveys, in 2013, the Frances-Emma BioBlitz and the Spring Survey at False
Cape State Park and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. He also participated in Snake
Fungal Disease (SFD) research to find snakes with possible signs of SFD in Back Bay NWR
(Guthrie grant), in September 2013.
Mike Salotti with ball python
Another big welcome into new and challenging positions goes to former VHS Vice
President, Dave Perry. Dave was elected as our current VHS Secretary/Treasurer, and agreed to be appointed as
our current VHS Conservation Committee Chair. Everyone in VHS is grateful to these individuals for their
dedication to serve in these positions and look forward to upcoming events, challenges, and progress for VHS with
these officers!
On that note, everyone in VHS is also grateful for the VHS Immediate Past President, Larry Mendoza, for great
service as our VHS President the past two years! Larry did a great job organizing surveys, working on more
collaboration with other groups such as the Smithsonian, serving on the Dangerous Animal Initiative Workgroup,
and even working with a state senator and VHS to attempt to propose an official state reptile and state amphibian.
Even though the proposals for state herps did not come to fruition during last year’s General Assembly, Larry took
and important first step in bringing this to reality. Hopefully, we will find a year when the General Assembly will be
open enough to these proposals (this is always tricky).
Last but not least, everyone in VHS is very grateful to service of our past VHS Secretary/Treasurer, Emily Steele.
Emily did a wonderful job at getting the VHS bank account modernized, in compliance with our non-profit status,
maintained accurately, and kept updated to the rest of VHS via regular communication.
We will miss the service of our past officers, and look forward to the service from our current officers!
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2) VHS Annual Spring Survey & Meeting
Friday-Sunday, May 16-18
The VHS will be holding our Annual Survey at James River State Park on the weekend of May 16-18, 2014, rain or
shine. This park is over 1,500 acres, and includes three miles of riverfront to survey and 15 miles of trails. We will
be splitting into groups to catch or observe the Park’s herpetofauna, and the results will be published in our journal.
No experience is required, nor is handling of any animals. There are many forms of recreation available for family
members not participating in the survey, including fishing and rentals for
canoes, tubing, and bicycles.
Registration: Registering allows the VHS to plan for more than usual
participants, and for us to notify you of any last minute changes. Please
register!
Location: James River State Park
104 Green Hill Drive
Gladstone, VA 24553
Preparation: As is typical for our surveys, expect to do a lot of walking on moderately difficult terrain. A group
will be designated the “Kids Group” for children and those with limited mobility that will be based in a relatively
easier terrain and the closest to facilities.
See our guide for VHS surveys.
Event Schedule:
1. Friday, May 16 – Business Meeting (6PM to 7PM) and Survey Coordination (7PM to 9PM)
2. Saturday, May 17 – Main Survey (8AM to 3PM)
– Survey wrapup (3-4PM) (See photos and captured animals from other groups)
– Campfire social (Exact location and time TBD at the Survey wrapup)
3. Sunday, May 18 – Secondary Survey, VHS Members only, limited space (8AM to 12PM)
The location and time to meet will be available only to VHS members
*Participation in all events is not required. You may leave as needed.
On-Site Lodging: James River has 16 cabins, 2 lodges and 50 campsites. All cabins and lodges have full
kitchens with ovens, microwaves and refrigerators. Please bring food as the nearest restaurant is about 20 miles
away. Lodging prices are as follows:
1. 2 bedroom cabins allow a maximum of 6 people (1 bathroom, 1 queen bed and 2 sets of bunk beds). $106/night
2. 3 bedroom cabins allow a maximum of 8 people (2 bathrooms, 1 queen bed, 2 single beds in second bedroom
and 2 sets of bunk beds in third bedroom). - $132/night
3. Lodges allow a maximum of 16 people (3 bathrooms, 2 queen size beds in 2 bedrooms, 2 single beds in 2
bedrooms, 2 sets of bunk beds each in 2 bedrooms). – $332/night
4. Red Oak Campground can have a maximum of 6 people per site. These sites have electricity and water.
$30/night
5. Canoe Landing and Branch Pond Campgrounds are tent only and allow a maximum of 6 people per
site. These sites have no electricity or water. $13/night
*The Va State Parks is offering a discount on lodging: http://www.virginiaoutdoors.com/article/more/4709
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Cost:
-There is no survey-specific fee by the VHS to attend any of the events.
-James River State Park is allowing us free parking for our spring survey. Parking is limited, so they ask that we
use the open field located near the visitor center. This will be marked on the satellite map.
-A VHS membership is required to attend the Sunday survey. Acquiring a membership before the survey is
preferred: http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/vhs-membership/membership.html
-The Virginia State Parks is offering a 20% discount on gift cards, which can be used to lodging reservations:
http://www.virginiaoutdoors.com/article/more/4709
Membership Benefits for this Survey:
-Exclusive access to a unique survey site
-Field hooks lending (limited quantities available- first come, first serve basis)
-More benefits are being finalized
*Members are encouraged to bring their printed out Membership Card.
Park Website: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/jam.shtml
Park Phone: (434) 933-4355
For Reservations: 1 800 933-7275
Mobile Phone Reception:
Verizon: fair around the cabin area and visitor center.
All other carriers are spotty to absent.
More Information: Attendees are encouraged to visit the VHS Facebook page for this event to ask questions,
and coordinate carpooling/ lodging sharing.
https://www.facebook.com/events/702827083061948/
Contact/ Leader: Any other inquiries can be sent to: president@vaherpsociety.com AND
vicepresident@vaherpsociety.com
3) Canebrake Rattlesnake Blitz (Survey Opportunities)
Our Conservation Chair is teaming up with the Virginia Department of
Game & Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) and the Department of Defense (DoD)
to help survey for the state endangered Canebrake Rattlesnake in
southeastern Virginia. There are plans for a one day, or weekend,
intensive survey, likely in early May, to get some experienced VHS officers
and members to come together to help find any individual rattlesnakes,
along with experts from VDGIF and DoD. Plans also call for other
opportunities for VHS members to help survey for rattlesnakes on other
days, when the VDGIF and DoD experts may not be available, so the VHS
members will be asked at these times to survey without any attempts to
handle the animals, but to just try to get photographs with detailed
documentation of the locations.
Stay tuned to the VHS website for more finalizations and details regarding these efforts and opportunities.
4) VHS Website Updates
Check out the all new look of the VHS website! The VHS Webmaster has been
working hard to update the look and functions of the website and it looks great!
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Check out the recent action alert posted on the VHS home page. The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
is interested in any reports from citizens of any wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) die-offs found. Please report
wood frog die-offs to Kim Terrell.
Also, be sure to check out the VHS Webmaster’s hard work in putting together some pages for anyone to use to
query native and naturalized reptile and amphibian species and where these species occur in Virginia. These are
useful tools that anyone can use, and it includes data provided by the Virginia Department of Game & Inland
Fisheries.
http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/county/county-herps.htm
Keep checking the VHS website for more surveys and other events and updates
coming up in 2014!
5) NEED Photo Submissions for the VHS 2015 Calendar!!!
The VHS is looking for quality native herp photos for our 2015 calendar. Photos must be of
a native Virginia reptile or amphibian. Images should have the subject in focus and with very
little background distraction. Photos will be required to be at least 2300 pixels in width x 1800
pixels in height in landscape (or horizontal) orientation. The calendar will also show the proper
credit for each photograph. Images received by August 31st will be considered for the 2015
calendar, but any late submissions will be saved for consideration in the 2016 calendar. Please
send your submissions to the VHS Store Manager, Patricia Crane, at
Merchandise@vaherpsociety.com. Good Luck Herp Photographers!
6) REMINDERS!
a. VHS Members Get Discounts at Zoos!
VHS is pleased to offer, as a membership benefit, discounts to select zoos and aquariums in
Virginia! We hope that having an admission or membership discount will give you incentive to
visit these facilities and give them your business. Although $1 or $2 off of the price of admission
does not sound like a lot, most zoos, aquariums, and museums are expensive to maintain, and it
represents a generous offer by the participating facilities. In order to facilitate these discounts, a
VHS member must have proof of a current membership. We e-mail membership cards in PDF
format, which will only need to be printed, copied and folded. Please have these cards handy when visiting:
Click here to see a list of discounts! Then, go to the Zoo Updates section (Pages 15-16) to find out the latest
news on some of these facilities!
b. Help Support the VHS!
Your support is a beautiful thing!! With simple clicks on the internet you can help support the VHS and our
mission to conserve, research, and educate the public on our native herps.
Not interested in a fundraiser, but still want to support the VHS? Donations are always accepted, in any
monetary amount. 100% of your donation goes towards our cause and is tax deductible due to our 501(c)(3)
tax-exempt status. Donate online via PayPal or send your donation to our Treasurer.
Fundraisers that support our cause:
Bloomin' Bucks with Brent and Becky's Bulbs
It's simple...go to www.bloominbucks.com (with no 'g') and from a pull down menu of all of the organizations
registered, select to support VHS! With one click, you are then sent to the Brent and Becky's Bulbs website
where you can order whatever you want, in whatever quantity and color you want...books, bulbs, garden tools,
plant supplements, gift certificates...ANYTHING...and a percentage of the order goes to support our cause!
GoodSearch, GoodShop, and GoodDining – You search, shop, or dine. They give, give, give.
GoodSearch.com is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising revenue to the charities
its users designate. Use it as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch
the donations add up!
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GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates up to 30 percent of each purchase to your
favorite cause! Hundreds of great stores including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, eBay, Macy's and Barnes
& Noble have teamed up with GoodShop and every time you place an order, you'll be supporting your favorite
cause. And if you download the GoodSearch – Virginia Herpetological Society (NEWPORT NEWS VA)
toolbar, our cause will earn money every time you shop and search online - even if you forget to go to
GoodShop or GoodSearch first! Add the Virginia Herpetological Society (NEWPORT NEWS VA) toolbar at
http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/virginia-herpetological-society
The GoodDining Program allows members to discreetly earn donations for the VHS at thousands of
participating restaurants, bars and clubs coast to coast. When you pay your bill for a qualified dine at a
participating restaurant, bar or club using a credit/debit card you've registered with GoodDining, they track your
total transaction amount and award donations based on your current Membership Level, which are
automatically deposited into your GoodDining account. Sign up and don't forget to select the Virginia
Herpetological Society as your charity of choice.
Cafe Press - The VHS Store
In this store you will find an assortment of high quality merchandise intended to celebrate the diversity of
amphibians and reptiles native to Virginia. Eventually, we will branch out into other non-herp and non-Virginian
related wildlife. If you are visiting this site from out of state, our products are not exclusive to Virginians. Many
of the species we feature can be found throughout a large part of the country. All proceeds from the sale of
merchandise on this site go towards funding the VHS's mission.
"The human race is challenged more than ever before to demonstrate our mastery – not
over nature but of ourselves." ~ Rachel Carson
Events
Northern Va Reptile Expo
Richmond Reptile Expo
Dates
5/3, 8/23/2014
7/19/2014
Prince William County
Fairgrounds
Manassas, Virginia 20108
Richmond International Raceway
Location
$7 / $3 child
$8 / $3 child
Admission
Colonial Bldg, 602 E Laburnum Ave
Richmond, VA 23322
Time
9 am to 3 pm
10 am to 3 pm
Contact
http://www.mdreptilefarm.com/shows/v
a/nva.asp
http://www.mdreptilefarm.com/shows/va/ri
chmond.asp
Fredericksburg Reptile Expo
Hampton Roads Reptile Expo
D at es
3/8/2014
3/2/2014
Location
Fredericksburg Fairgrounds
2400 Airport Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Point Plaza Suite
950 J. Clyde Morris Blvd.
Newport News, VA 23601
Admission
$8
$7 /free child (under 3)
Time
9 am to 3 pm
9 am to 4 pm
Contact
http://mdreptilefarm.com/fredricksburg
-reptile-expo/
https://www.facebook.com/Hrrexpo
For these and other reptile expos/shows, go to: http://www.rexpotracker.com/
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Events (Continued)
LOUDOUN WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY
PROGRAMS and FIELD TRIPS
Vanishing Vernal Pools and the Amphibians That Use Them — Class March 14, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m., Morven Park,
followed by Field Session March 15 or 16, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy for this
popular crash course on vernal pools and other seasonal wetlands. This hands-on training begins with a classroom
session on Friday evening followed by a full-day field session on the weekend (participants pick either Saturday or
Sunday for their field trip). During the field session, we will visit different local vernal pool habitats, encounter
amphibians that may include spotted and Jefferson salamanders and wood frogs, and search for fairy shrimp. Cost:
$10 members, $20 non-members. Registration required: Sign Up Online at
http://www.loudounwildlife.org/SignUp.htm.. Questions: Contact Jill Miller at jmiller@loudounwildlife.org.
Discovering the Wildlife and Habitats of Willowsford — Saturday, March 22, 10:00 a.m. Willowsford is a new
community in eastern Loudoun where natural areas are being preserved and protected. Join Loudoun Wildlife
Conservancy as we explore the woods and fields, identify birds, look for frogs and salamanders in the vernal pools
and other wetlands, identify animal tracks and talk about the relationships between these varied habitats and wildlife
residents. Please bring binoculars if you have them. This is a family-friendly event. Space is limited so please register
early. Registration required: Sign Up Online or contact Nicole Hamilton at nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org.
Native Plant Sale — Saturday, April 5, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Morven Park. It's time again for Loudoun Wildlife
Conservancy's Spring Native Plant Sale! Native plants are beautiful and grow better because they are adapted for our
weather conditions and soils; they also provide greater benefit to our native wildlife because plants and animals
evolved together. Hill House Farm and Native Nursery (www.hillhousenativeplants.com) and Nature-By-Design
(www.nature-by-design.com) will once again bring a wide variety of plants for you to select from. To see plants that
each nursery carries or to place orders ahead of time (all nursery stock is not present at the sale), visit their websites.
Questions: Contact Ann Garvey at agarvey@loudounwildlife.org.
Morven Park Nature Walk — Sunday, April 6, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Join Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy naturalists for a
nature walk through the forest as we visit wooded wetlands, look for spring wildflowers and discuss the flora and fauna
that make up this forest. If you own binoculars, please bring them. Registration required: Sign Up Online at
http://www.loudounwildlife.org/SignUp.htm.. Questions: Contact Jill Miller at jmiller@loudounwildlife.org.
For up-to-date information on these programs and more, and to sign up, check our web site at
www.loudounwildlife.org.
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Herp Trivia
The questions and answers in this edition of “Herp Trivia” are pulled from material that has been posted on the VHS
Facebook Page in recent months. Check out the vast information that is being posted on our Facebook Page!
1. Can you name this Virginia herp? Do you know its record length?
2. The Nature Center at Maymont in Richmond recently opened an exhibit featuring what Virginia herps?
3. Can you correctly identify all
ten native Virginia herps?
4. Can you identify the native herp skeleton?
5. Of jumping distances of the American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), what is the world record
jump, and what is the longest jump recorded in scientific literature?
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6. Can you correctly identify all six native Virginia reptiles?
7. True or False: Public education is a huge component of the core functions of VHS.
8. In Virginia, which native snake species have reached or exceeded 7 feet in total body length? Which
species have reached or exceeded 8 feet in total body length ?
9. Can you correctly identify
all nine Virginia native snakes?
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10. Do any of our native snakes prey on turkey? If so, which one(s)?
Answers can be found on pages 24-25.
NOTICE: Submissions for Catesbeiana Vol. 34 No. 2 are due Sept. 1, 2014!
Please support the VHS by submitting any papers, field notes, or artwork for Catesbeiana to: Dr. Paul
Sattler, Editor, Catesbeiana, pwsattle@liberty.edu.
News
New report from the National Wildlife Reptile group sues to overturn python ban –
Federation (1 US calls ban necessary to protect wildlife 4)
Hatchling lizards smarter than you think (2
Salamanders help predict health of forest
Happy 2014 Year of the Salamander! From
ecosystems, inform forest management 5)
PARC 3)
1) New Report from the National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation is excited to announce the release of a publication
titled Virginia’s Climate Modeling and Species Vulnerability Assessment: How Climate
Data Can Inform Management and Conservation.
This report analyzed how a selection of species (wildlife, fish, and plants) may
change their distribution across a landscape based on climate change. The report
summarizes species projections and what that may mean for conservation and
management in Virginia.
A companion report by the Conservation Management Institute focuses on the
technical aspects of the effort.
2) Hatchling lizards are smarter than you think
October 21, 2013, Macquarie University Press Release.
A collaborative research team from Macquarie University and Sydney University have
discovered that young (hatchling) lizards are capable of learning complex tasks, particularly if they
hatched from eggs incubated at warmer temperatures.
The team, lead by Associate Professor Martin Whiting from Macquarie University’s Lizard Lab, tested the
intellectual abilities of 14 week-old three-lined skinks by challenging them to first remove a cap covering a
‘well’ to access a food-reward, and secondly to correctly identify which coloured cap shields the foodreward.
“In the final stage of the testing, we complicated the challenge for the lizards by switching the reward to a
different container, with a different coloured lid,” said Associate Professor Whiting.
“We found that the lizards did not rely on previous spatial locations to locate the reward, but could
discriminate between the colours to identify where to look first.
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“Some of the lizards we tested never really got it, but others solved every challenge we threw at them. Our
results add to a growing body of literature that shows that at least sometimes, lizards can be far smarter
than many scientists previously believed.”
A key element of the study was to compare the learning rates and abilities of lizards that had been
incubated in warmer compared to cooler temperatures, with the former performing more successfully
overall.
“The lizards from the ‘hot’ incubation temperatures were generally larger, but even the largest ‘cold’
incubated hatchlings did not progress beyond the training phase. Therefore, success at the motor task was
due to more than just body size,” said Whiting.
“It looks like the temperature of a nest influences the problem-solving ability of a young lizard. These results
are significant because they underlie the importance of an animals developmental environment on learning
ability and cognition.”
The research paper has been published in full online in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
Benjamin F. Clark, Joshua J. Amiel, Richard Shine, Daniel W. A. Noble & Martin J. Whiting (2013) Colour
discrimination and associative learning in hatchling lizards incubated at ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ temperatures
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00265-013-1639-x
3) Happy 2014 Year of the Salamander! From PARC
Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC), is celebrating 2014
as the Year of the Salamander to energize salamander education, research,
and conservation. This is a worldwide effort, leveraged through the actions of
numerous partner organizations and individuals – from the general public to
professional wildlife conservation. Please check out our Year of the Salamander
website at www.yearofthesalamander.org!
As the Year of the Salamander unfolds, PARC and its collaborators will be working to raise
awareness about:
 the importance of salamanders in natural systems and to humankind;
 diverse ongoing research pathways aimed at better understanding salamanders, their role in
ecosystems, and threats to their existence;
 actions being implemented around the world to conserve salamander populations and their
habitats; and
 education and outreach efforts through a kaleidoscope of individual and group involvement.

At our website, you can view or download the State of the Salamander document, the January
newsletter and the January downloadable salamander calendar, which features the winning
monthly photo contest image of a beautiful Long-tailed Salamander by Andrew Burmester! A page
dedicated to Year of the Salamander outreach and education activities and links to other resources
will be added soon. We'll continue to have newsletters and downloadable monthly calendars
each month in 2014, so be sure to check back. Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter by mail by
contacting us at yearofthesalamander@gmail.com.

Become a Year of the Salamander partner! If you or your organization are implementing
salamander conservation efforts or just plain love salamanders and want to help spread the word,
we want to hear about it at yearofthesalamander@gmail.com! Check out our Partners Page - we'll
be adding more throughout the year!

Don’t forget to get your Year of the Salamander 2014 gear at the PARCStore
(http://www.cafepress.com/parcstore). The merchandise features the Year of the Salamander
winning logo (designed by Sheri Sanders) and a 2014 print wall calendar (chock full of amazing
photos).
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
Like us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter! Participate in our ongoing monthly photo contest for a
chance at having your photo selected for our month-by-month downloadable calendar, or just share
your photos with us at yearofthesalamander@gmail.com – you might see your photo in one of our
many conservation products!

Thanks, and be sure to spread the word!
4) Reptile group sues to overturn python ban – US calls ban necessary to protect wildlife
By David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel, December 19, 2013
A reptile industry trade group has gone to court to overturn a federal ban on the import of four species
of large snake, including the Burmese pythons that have infested the Everglades.
The United States Association of Reptile Keepers, which represents dealers, importers, breeders and
hobbyists, filed suit in federal court Thursday to overturn a 2012 ban on the import and interstate trade in
Burmese pythons, northern and southern African pythons and yellow anacondas.
The group said the federal ban rested on shaky scientific evidence, including a highly exaggerated
projection of the snakes' potential geographic range in the United States, and inadequate economic
analysis that understated the potential harm to the reptile industry. "This is a powerful day for the Reptile
Nation, as we fight to protect your rights to pursue your passion and defend your businesses against
unwarranted and unnecessary government intrusion," stated an email Friday to members of the reptile
group.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service banned the import and interstate trade in the snakes on Jan. 17,
2012, with then Interior Secretary Ken Salazar traveling to Everglades National Park to make the
announcement. Biologists at the park have called the python a major threat to native wildlife, with the huge
snakes consuming rabbits, birds, raccoons, alligators and full-grown deer. East of the park, African rock
pythons are suspected of establishing a breeding population along Tamiami Trail.
Tom MacKenzie, spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said the ban was necessary to
protect native wildlife. "Banning the import and interstate movement of these large, non-native snakes will
help prevent spread of these snakes into wild populations beyond those already established," he said.
The Humane Society of the United States called the lawsuit an attempt to protect profits from the sale
of dangerous animals that have killed 15 people in the United States. "This is the very industry that peddles
high-maintenance dangerous predators to unqualified people at flea markets, swap meets, and over the
Internet," said Debbie Leahy, captive wildlife specialist for the Humane Society. "Banning just a handful of
dangerous species has little impact on businesses, since there are literally hundreds of less risky snake and
reptile species available to pet purchasers."
But the reptile keepers group said the government ignored contrary evidence presented during the
public comment period.
A ban on five other species of large constrictors is under review. These include the boa constrictor,
which has established a breeding population in Miami-Dade County, the reticulated python,
DeSchauensee's anaconda, green anaconda and Beni anaconda.
The reptile group, which said a ban on all nine species could cost the industry up to $1.2 billion over 10
years, said this lawsuit would "put the government on notice" that it intends to fight any additional bans.
5) Salamanders help predict health of forest ecosystems, inform forest management
January 22, 2014, University of Missouri-Columbia
Summary:
Researchers have determined that salamander population size reflects
forest habitat quality and can predict how ecosystems recover from forest
logging activity. They believe these findings can be translated to other
species within forest ecosystems throughout the world.
-----------
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Woodland salamanders are small, lungless amphibians that live in moist, forest habitats throughout the U.S.
and the world. Salamanders often serve as vital links in forest food chains; their population size and
recovery from major disturbances can help predict the health of forest ecosystems. Now, researchers at the
University of Missouri have determined that salamander population size reflects forest habitat quality and
can predict how ecosystems recover from forest logging activity. MU researchers believe these findings can
be translated to other species within forest ecosystems throughout the world.
"One of our primary interests is in conservation of amphibians and the habitats that they utilize," said Ray
Semlitsch, Curators' Professor of biological sciences in the College of Arts and Science at MU. "We are
trying to understand how land use, and particularly forest management, affects the survival of amphibians
on the landscape. We also determined that salamander recovery -- or the amount of time it takes for
salamanders to repopulate a cut forest area -- can help forest managers determine appropriate logging
schedules."
Semlitsch and fellow researcher, Grant Connette, a graduate student in the Division of Biological Sciences,
chose to study a forest area in the southern Appalachian Mountains that has the highest diversity of
salamanders in the world. Although seldom seen in the daytime, these animals breathe using their wet skin
and forage at night. The researchers conducted surveys of terrestrial salamanders, which don't rely on
water or streams, to examine patterns of their abundance relative to timber harvest and species movement
behavior. They discovered that forests logged more than 100 years ago may still be affecting salamanders
today.
"Most conservation biologists study the pattern of change within a species -- for example, how they decline
or how they recolonize after a major event," Semlitsch said. "Our lab takes it a step further by seeking to
understand the causes of species decline. We're finding that population fluctuations depend on the animal's
behavior, like their ability to disperse, following a major event like logging a forest and can last for many
years."
Roughly half of all forest area in the United States is on public land, where modern forest management
increasingly uses alternatives to clear-cutting. These techniques include limiting the size of logged areas
and maintaining large areas of forest at highly mature stages, which may prove less disruptive to wildlife
than clear-cutting. Semlitsch hopes to help find the balance between the economics of using natural
resources and conservation and hopes to share this information with forest managers so they can make
informed decisions about conservation and biodiversity.
Their research, "Life history as a predictor of salamander recovery rate from timber harvest in southern
Appalachian forests, U.S.A." was published in Conservation Biology.
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by University of Missouri-Columbia. Note: Materials may be
edited for content and length.
Journal Reference:
GRANT M. CONNETTE, RAYMOND D. SEMLITSCH. Life History as a Predictor of Salamander Recovery
Rate from Timber Harvest in Southern Appalachian Forests, U.S.A. Conservation Biology, 2013; 27 (6):
1399 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12113
14
Zoo Updates
Reptiles Alive!
Northern Virginia & DC Area
www.reptilesalive.com
Things are going well, and our summer schedule is filling up with public
events. Here is a list of public events currently booked in our schedule in VA
(lots more will be coming). All these events are OPEN to the general
public. Some require pre-registration and/or tickets. The list below and
several other events found on the following link include numerous free public
events and include many at Fairfax libraries as well as other events
http://reptilesalive.com/events
March 2014
Saturday March 22nd 12:00noon-12:45pm
Live Animal Show
"Reptiles Alive!"
Old Town Theater
Alexandria VA
April 2014
Tuesday April 15th 2:00pm-3:15pm
Live Animal Show
Reptiles Alive! + Reptile Encounters
George Mason Regional Library
Annandale VA
703 256-3800
Saturday April 26th 10:30am-11:30am
Live Animal Show
"Reptiles Alive + Reptile Encounters"
Henrico Theater
Henrico VA
(804) 328-4491
Saturday April 26th 11:30am-12:30pm
Live Animal Show
Henrico Theater
Henrico VA
(804) 328-4491
July 2014
Wednesday July 9th 4:00pm-5:15pm
Live Animal Show
"Reptiles Alive! + Reptile Encounters"
Alexandria Library
Alexandria VA
Tuesday July 15th 10:30am-11:30am
Live Animal Show
Chinn Park Regional Library
Woodbridge VA
15
703-792-4800
Tuesday July 15th 2:00pm-3:15pm
Live Animal Show
Woodbridge VA
703-792-4800
Live Animal Show
Woodbridge VA
703-792-4800
Tuesday July 22nd 12:00-1:00pm
Live Animal Show
"Reptiles Alive! + Reptile Encounters"
Richmond County Public Library
Warsaw VA
804 333-6710
Tuesday July 22nd 1:00pm-1:30 pm
Live Animal Show
"Reptiles Alive!"
Richmond County Public Library
Warsaw VA
804 333-6710
Tuesday July 22nd 3:00pm-3:45pm
Live Animal Show
Snakes Alive!
Locust Grove Middle School
Locust Grove, VA
540 672-3811
Wednesday July 23rd 1:00pm-1:45pm
Live Animal Show
Snakes Alive!
Gordon-Barbour Elementary School
Gordonsville VA
540 672-3811
Wednesday July 23rd 3:15pm-4:00pm
Live Animal Show
Snakes Alive!
Taylor Admin Building
Orange VA
540 672-3811
Saturday July 26th 12:30pm-1:30pm
Live Animal Show
Reptiles Alive! + Reptile Encounters
16
Rappahannock County Library
Washington VA
540 675-1125
Monday July 28th 2:30pm-3:15pm
Live Animal Show
“Reptiles Alive! “
Cascades Library
Potomac Falls VA
703-444-3228
Monday July 28th 7:00pm-7:45pm
Live Animal Show
Ashburn Library
Ashburn VA
703-737-8100
Live Animal Show
Middleburg Library
Middleburg VA
540-687-5730
Live Animal Show
Rust Library
Leesburg VA
703-777-0323
Live Animal Show
Lovettsville Library
Lovettsville VA
540-822-5824
Wednesday July 30th 1:00pm-1:45pm
Live Animal Show
Purcellville Library
Purcellville VA
540-338-7235
Remember, VHS Members receive a discount when booking shows.
– Caroline Seitz
17
Virginia Aquarium
Virginia Beach
virginiaaquarium.com
An Update of the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center :
Here at the Virginia Aquarium, we are excited about our present situation,
and the future ahead! Currently, we have been working furiously to set up
the very best enclosures for our Javan Hump-headed
lizards (Gonocephalus chamaeleontinus). Some of
you may have read in the December 2013 edition of
Reptiles Magazine that Virginia Aquarium houses the
largest collection of these rare animals in the country.
We are very proud of this fact, and will continue to
establish a breeding colony. For the first time, we
have several babies. They are doing well and growing
quickly.
Jude's ultrasound, with
Stephen Knoop (right)
Baby Gonocephalus
chamaeleontinus
After an unsuccessful attempt to breed our
Komodo dragon female Jude, to our male
Teman, this past November, we are already
ramping up to attempt the process again this
coming summer or early fall. We hope to
increase Jude’s weight by the time breeding
season rolls around again. We have implemented
successful tactile training into Jude’s routine and
as a result, have been successful in obtaining
ultrasounds on a regular basis. We hope to add
to the limited knowledge of Komodo dragon
reproduction in zoos and aquariums by creating a
time-lapse of follicular development.
Our rare Malayan Leaf Frogs (Megophrys nasuta) are doing quite well thanks
to their recently renovated exhibit. These interesting and unique animals can
be found across from the Tomistoma exhibit in our Restless Planet section of
the Ocean Pavilion. Unfortunately, by pure coincidence, all of our acquired
Malayn Leaf Frogs happen to be males. Because we intend to be a taxon
champion of this species, we are happy to announce that we will be acquiring
at least a dozen more of these beautiful animals this coming spring. Our
hope is to have our own sustainable
population, and introduce new genes into the
presently small gene pool.
The Virginia Aquarium Herpetology staff is
proud to be heading up its own chapter of
FrogWatch USA. This is our second year
contributing to the national citizen-science
program. Last year was a great success and
we hope to have an even bigger contribution
in 2014. If you live in the Hampton Roads
Megophrys nasuta
area interested in volunteering your time to
this worth-while conservation initiative, please contact us. Training sessions
will be on February 22nd, and March 1st from 2-5pm at Virginia Aquarium
Marsh Pavilion. If you would like any extra information, please contact
Stephen Knoop at sjknoop@virginiaaquarium.com.Thank you to the Virginia
Herpetological Society, and we hope to see you soon at the Virginia
Aquarium & Marine Science Center!
18
~Stephen Howard
Exhibit Technician I - Herpetology
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center
“There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of wilderness, that can reveal its
mystery, its melancholy and its charm.”
~ Theodore Roosevelt
Conservation Key
TURTLEPOP: A collaborative effort for the conservation of pond turtles
Dr. Todd Fredericksen, Ferrum College
Aquatic turtles can often be observed basking
on logs at the water’s edge or rising to the
surface of the water for air. They are quick to
slide under the water upon the least sign of
danger. Except perhaps for water pollution and
occasional trapping, they are usually safe in their
watery habitat. The trouble starts, however, when
they venture away from the water. While both
males and females may occasionally leave the
water, adult females consistently leave the water
each year to nest on land. When traveling to and
from the nesting site, turtles are subject to the
same threats as their terrestrial counterpart, the
Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina). These
threats include motor vehicles, lawn mowers, and
pet collectors. Indeed, populations of aquatic
turtles all over the world are often threatened
because they are collected for food and subject
to mortality from human disturbance (Buhlmann
et al., 2009). Hatchling turtles also need to find
their way to water and are additionally subjected
to hungry synanthropic predators, such as
raccoons, opossums, and crows. Conceivably,
mortality of pond turtles should increase with
increasing levels of urbanization surrounding the
pond (Marchand and Litivaitis, 2004). This
potentially increased mortality for females and
young turtles may lead to biased population
structures toward adult males. Indeed, skewed
sex and age ratios have been observed in
freshwater turtle species (Steen and Gibbs, 2004;
Freedberg and Bowne, 2006).
Beginning in 2012, students and professors
at colleges and universities throughout the
country started working collaboratively on a markrecapture study to test the hypothesis that
increased urbanization is correlated with aquatic
turtle population age structures that are biased
Ferrum students, Tyler Muckle & Anthony
Garcia, check a turtle trap at Chapman Pond.
towards adult males. The project entitled
“Population Structure of Freshwater Turtles along
an Urbanization Gradient”, nicknamed
“Turtlepop”, is part of a network of collaborative
ecological research projects funded by the
National Science Foundation called the
Ecological Research as Education Network
(EREN). The goal of EREN is to engage
19
undergraduate students in authentic research as
part of a class project or independent research.
Dr. David Bowne of Elizabethtown College in
Pennsylvania coordinates Turtlepop and there
are professors from four colleges in Virginia
participating in the study, including Dr. Randy
Chambers at The College of William and Mary,
Dr. Greg Eaton at Lynchburg College, Dr. Todd
Fredericksen at Ferrum College, and Dr. Peter
Smallwood at The University of Richmond.
In the late summer and fall, students and
professors capture turtles in large mesh funnel
net traps baited with sardines. Students record
data on the size, gender and age of the turtle and
then mark the turtles using a standardized
technique by notching the marginal scutes of the
carapace that gives each turtle a unique
identification code. At least one pond is sampled
at each college or university and all researchers
use two different sampling periods per pond, with
each sampling period consisting of two
consecutive days using a minimum of four funnel
traps. To relate the population to structure, data
were also collected on landscape features
surrounding the pond including area of land use,
density of the road network, and human
population size within different distances from the
pond. The data are analyzed using a Geographic
Information System (GIS).
At the University of Richmond, turtles were
trapped in five ponds during 2013 and six species
were captured including the Painted Turtle
(Chysemys picta), Eastern Musk Turtle
(Sternotherus odoratus), Common Snapping
Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), River Cooter
(Pseudemys concinna), Red-bellied Cooter
(Pseudemys rubriventris), and the exotic Redeared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). At
Westhampton Lake in the center of campus,
Painted turtles had a male-female ratio of 1:1.2
(1:3.5) and adults (3.5:1). Red-bellied Sliders
were not marked, but totaled 31 captures, second
only to Painted Turtles. In the more rural Rice
Lake, only Eastern Musk Turtles were captured in
significant numbers and populations were
skewed heavily towards females (1:4.4) and
adults (2.7:1). A third lake, Swan Lake, had an
abundant population of Red-eared Sliders,
comprising 29 of the 42 turtle captures.
At Ferrum College, trapping was completed
at two ponds during 2012 and 2013. Adams
Lake (actually a medium-sized pond), located in
the center of campus has an abundance of
Snapping Turtles and Painted Turtles. The
Snapping Turtle population was biased towards
males (2.6:1) and heavily biased towards adults
(17:1). Painted Turtles had a relatively even sex
ratio (1:1.2), but was also biased towards adults
(3.67:1). Chapman Pond is a slightly smaller
water body located on the edge of campus and
mostly surrounded by forest. Most captures were
Painted Turtles, again with an even sex ratio
(1.2:1) and skewed towards adults (2.25:1).
There were only four Snapping Turtles captured,
three males and one juvenile of undetermined
sex. In each pond, one Eastern Musk Turtle was
captured.
At the College of William and Mary, students
in the Fall 2012 and 2013 Wetland Ecosystems
class participated in two days of turtle sampling in
An eastern painted turtle being measured at
Chapman Pond.
Ferrum student, Alison Davis, setting a turtle trap
at Chapman Pond.
and a similar adult-juvenile ratio. Eastern musk
turtles appeared to be skewed towards females
Crim Dell, a small, ~1/4-acre pond located in the
center of campus. Relative to Ferrum and
Richmond, few turtles were captured in Crim Dell
(14 total unique captures), although six different
species were represented, including Red-bellied
Cooter (4), Red-eared Slider (4), Common
Snapping Turtle (2), Eastern Musk Turtle (2),
Yellow-Bellied Slider (Trachemys scripta scripta)
(1), and Painted Turtle (1). Two turtles were
recaptured during the second sampling day in
2012; no turtles from either year were recaptured
in 2013. The snapping turtles were released
20
without any measurement. All other species
captured collectively were biased toward adults
(11:1), with 7 male and 5 female captures.
Overall, the most commonly captured
species, the Painted Turtle, had a relatively even
sex ratio at all ponds, whereas Eastern Musk
Turtles tended to have a female-skewed
population and Common Snapping Turtles had a
male-skewed population. The only consistent
trend among all species is a skewed ratio of
adults to juveniles. It is unclear whether this
trend is due to problems with recruitment or
perhaps a capture method bias where juvenile
turtles may have less difficulty in escaping traps
through the narrow funnel opening. There is a
wide variety in age distribution among species
and among published records within a species.
The expected 1:1 for adults is based on solid
evolutionary theory, but the expected
juvenile:adult is much softer. Both Ernst (1971)
and Bayless (1975) found juvenile:adult ratios of
less than 1:5 in less human-dominated systems.
In the coming months, large amounts of
data will be submitted throughout the nation on
the population structure of pond turtles and the
impact of urbanization. In addition, professors
and students have gained experience in sampling
aquatic turtle populations with the expectation of
continued monitoring of these populations in
relation to human disturbance.
Literature Cited
Bayless, L.E. 1975. Population parameters for
Chrysemys picta in a New York pond. American
Midland Naturalist 93:168-176.
Buhlmann, K.A., A. Thomas, S.B. Akre, J.B.
Iverson, D. Karapatakis, R.A. Mittermeier, A.
Georges, G.J. Rhodin, P.P. Van Dijk, and J.W.
Gibbons. 2009. A global analysis of tortoise and
freshwater turtle distributions with identification of
priority conservation areas. Chelonian
Conservation Biology 8:116-149.
Ernst, C.H. 1971. Population dynamics and
activity cycles of Chrysemys picta in southeastern
Pennsylvania. Journal of Herpetology 5:151-160.
Freedberg, S. and D. R. Bowne. 2006.
Monitoring juveniles across years reveals nonFisherian sex ratios in a reptile with
environmental sex determination. Evolutionary
Ecology Research 8:1499-1510.
Marchand, M. N., and Litvaitis, J. A. 2004.
Effects of habitat feature and landscape
composition on the population structure of
common aquatic turtle in a region undergoing
rapid development. Conservation Biology 18:758767.
Steen, D. A., and J. P. Gibbs. 2004. Effects of
roads on the structure of freshwater turtle
populations. Conservation Biology 18:1143-1148.
New Book
Title: The Map Turtle and Sawback Atlas: Ecology, Evolution, Distribution, and
Conservation
Author: Peter V. Lindeman
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Publication date: December 2013
Price: $45.00 PLUS $7.00 S&H (through HerpDigest) OR $35.95 - $47.73 (through
Amazon.com)
Description: Covering all facets of the biology of a little-known genus, Peter V. Lindeman’s
lavishly illustrated Map Turtle and Sawback Atlas is both a scientific treatise and an
engaging introduction to a striking group of turtles.
Map turtles and sawbacks, found in and along rivers from Texas to Florida and north to
the Great Lakes, fascinate ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Over a short geologic
time span, these turtles achieved exceptional biological diversification. Their diets are
also exceptionally diverse, and a significant difference in size distinguishes males from
21
females. Adult males are typically half or less the shell length of adult females, making map
turtles and sawbacks the champions of sexual dimorphism among not only turtles but all fourlegged vertebrates.
Aesthetics also draw biologists and hobbyists to map turtles and sawbacks. While the male
Sabine map turtle may look to some like a “pencil-necked geek,” as the author puts it, markings
on the shell, limbs, head, and neck make map turtles among the most attractive turtles on earth.
Sawbacks feature a striking ridge down their shell. Few turtles show themselves off to such
advantage. Photographs included here of Graptemys basking poses reveal to what improbable
heights these turtles can scale, the spread-eagle sunning stances they adopt, the stacking of
individuals on a crowded site, and the heads that warily watch the world above the waterline.
In lively prose, Lindeman details the habitat, diet, reproduction and life history, natural history,
and population abundance of each species. A section on conservation status summarizes official
state, federal, and international designations for each species, along with efforts toward
population management and recovery as well as habitat preservation. The author also outlines
promising avenues for future research, ranging from the effects of global climate change on
populations to strategies for combating expansion of the pet trade. Hardcover. 488 pages.
ISBN: 9780806144061.
Virginia Literature
These selections represent articles published or in press during the period September to
December 2013 and January 2014. Included articles are focused on (1) studies performed within
Virginia, (2) studies on reptiles or amphibians native to Virginia, or (3) additional herpetological
topics that are of general interest. Compiled by Susan Watson.
Keitzer, S. Conor, Thomas K. Pauley, and
Chris L. Burcher. Oct 2013. Stream
Characteristics Associated with Site Occupancy
by the Eastern Hellbender, Cryptobranchus
alleganiensis alleganiensis, in Southern West
Virginia. Northeastern Naturalist. Vol. 20(4): 666677.
Mitchell, Joseph C. and Susan C. Walls. Dec
2013. Nest Site Selection by Diamond-Backed
Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) on a Mid-Atlantic
Barrier Island. Chelonian Conservation and
Biology. Vol. 12(2): 303-308.
Farnsworth, Elizabeth J., Miyoko Chu, W.
John Kress, Amanda K. Neill, Jason H. Best,
John Pickering, Robert D. Stevenson, Gregory
W. Courtney, John K. Vandyk and Aaron M.
Ellison. Nov 2013. Next-Generation Field
Guides. BioScience. Vol. 63(11): 891-899.
McCulloch, Eve S. Harnessing the Power of
Big Data in Biological Research. BioScience. Vol.
63(9): 715-716.
Drake, Dana L. and Katherine M. O’Donnell.
Jan 2014. Sampling of Terrestrial Salamanders
Reveals Previously Unreported Atypical Color
Morphs in the Southern Red-backed Salamander
Plethodon serratus. The American Midland
Naturalist. Vol. 171(1): 172-177.
Camp, Carlos D., Zackary L. Seymour, and
Jessica A. Wooten. Sept 2013. Morphological
Variation in the Cryptic Species Desmognathus
quadramaculatus (Black-bellied Salamander) and
Desmognathus folkertsi (Dwarf Black-bellied
Salamander). Journal of Herpetology. Vol. 47(3):
471-479.
Acord, Megan A., Carl D. Anthony, and CariAnn M. Hickerson. Dec 2013. Assortative Mating
in a Polymorphic Salamander. Copeia. Vol.
2013(4): 676-683.
22
Graham, Sean P. Sept 2013. How Frequently
Do Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) Bask
in Trees? Journal of Herpetology. Vol. 47(3): 428431.
Lovich, Jeffrey E. Sept 2013. Turtles,
Tortoises and Terrapins: A Natural History.
Copeia. Vol. 2013(3): 570-571.
Cunningham, Heather R. and Leslie J.
Rissler. Sept 2013. Investigating Behavioral
Shifts in Aggression between a Naturalized and
Native Salamander Species of the Genus
Plethodon. Herpetological Conservation and
Biology. Vol. 8(2): 276-287.
Allender, Matthew C., Mark A. Mitchell, David
McRuer, Shane Christian, and John Byrd. Sept
2013. Prevalence, Clinical Signs, and Natural
History Characteristics of Frog Virus 3-like
Infections in Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene
carolina carolina). Herpetological Conservation
and Biology. Vol. 8(2): 308-320.
Minter, Larry J., Daniel S. Dombrowski, Michael
K. Stoskopf, Cheryl A. Purnell, Micheal R.
Loomis, and Ryan S. De Voe. Sept 2013.
Hematology and Plasma Biochemical Values for
Free Ranging Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon
piscivorus) in Central North Carolina, USA.
Herpetological Conservation and Biology. Vol.
8(2): 321-334.
Waye, Heather L. Sept 2013. Can a Tiger
Change its Spots? A Test of the Stability of Spot
Patterns for Identification of Individual Tiger
Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum).
Herpetological Conservation and Biology. Vol.
8(2): 419-425.
Herpcetera
CNAH launches The Journal of North
American Herpetology (1
6th Conference on the Biology of
Plethodontid Salamanders 2)
1) The Center for North American Herpetology (CNAH) is pleased and proud to announce the
launch of our journal – The Journal of North American Herpetology. The Journal of North
American Herpetology (JNAH) (ISSN 2333-0694)
JNAH provides an open access on-line venue with the use of all modern digital technologies for peerreviewed contributions of all aspects of North American Herpetology within the geographic boundaries of the
United States and Canada. JNAH is a continuation of the very first herpetological on-line peer reviewed
Journal Contemporary Herpetology (1998-2009), which can be accessed from the JNAH web site.
Co-editors and CNAH Board Members Walter Meshaka and Dan Fogell along with Managing Editor and
CNAH Director Travis Taggart have worked diligently over the past year preparing this new journal. They
would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to all of the Associate Editors, reviewers, and authors who
helped them craft what they believe is a high-quality, professional publication dedicated to furthering the
understanding of the North American herpetofauna. JNAH will continue to publish manuscripts in this volume
throughout 2014 as they are received, reviewed, and readied for publication. Subsequent announcements will
be released each time an article is prepared for publication.
The premiere issue, Volume 2014(1), can be accessed by visiting the JNAH web site
at http://jnah.cnah.org.
23
2) 6th Conference on the Biology of Plethodontid Salamanders, May 18-20 2014 in Tulsa, OK
It has been nearly seven years since the most recent “plethodontid conference.” Therefore, we are pleased to
announce the 6th Conference on the Biology of Plethodontid Salamanders! The 6th conference will honor our friend
and colleague Dr. Stephen Tilley, Professor Emeritus at Smith College. We will convene at the University of Tulsa
in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 18-20, 2014.
We anticipate space for ~40 oral presentations. For those who cannot be accommodated on the oral
presentation schedule, and for those wishing to present in poster format, we will offer a poster session during the
conference. Registration fees for this conference are $50 for students and $100 for faculty, postdocs, and others.
Conference registration and payment of fees can be accomplished through a secured website. Abstract submission
will be accomplished via email.
The deadline for registration and for submission of abstracts is February 15, 2014. All information about this
conference including registration and abstract submission instructions, lodging, information about our honoree, etc.
can be found at the conference website: http://plethodontids2014.weebly.com.
Details and announcements will be posted to this website and additionally through the conference Twitter feed
plethodontids14. Be sure to follow us! We look forward to seeing everyone in Tulsa!
Please address all questions to one of the conference organizers:
Matt Gifford
Department of Biology
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Little Rock, AR 72204
megifford@ualr.edu
Ron Bonett
Department of Biological Science
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK 74104
ron-bonett@utulsa.edu
24
Answers from pages 8-10.
A
Trivia Answers
1. Can you name this Virginia herp? Do you know its record length?
- The answers are eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) and 29.1
inches (74 cm).
2. The Nature Center at Maymont in Richmond recently opened an exhibit featuring what Virginia herps?
- The three venomous snake species that are native to Virginia (northern copperhead,
eastern cottonmouth, and timber rattlesnake).
3. Can you correctly identify all ten native Virginia herps?
- 1. Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris)
2. Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus
utricularius)
3. Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus
piscivorus)
4. Red Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus)
5. Carpenter Frog (Lithobates virgatipes)
6. Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon)
7. Northern Ring-necked Snake (or intergrade) (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii)
8. Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
9. Northern Brownsnake (Nerodia taxispilota)
10. Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
4. Can you identify the native herp skeleton?
- Eastern Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera spinifera)
5. Of jumping distances of the American Bullfrog (Lithobates
catesbeianus), what is the world record jump, and what is the longest jump recorded in scientific literature?
- 7.2 feet and 4.2 feet, respectively
25
6. Can you correctly identify all six native Virginia reptiles?
- 1. Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen)
2. Eastern Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera spinifera)
3. Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
4. Eastern Six-lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata
sexlineata)
5. Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus)
6. Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
7. True or False: Public education is a huge component of the core functions of VHS.
- The answer is true. Check out the VHS Education Committee webpage and report:
http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/education/educationalcommittee.htm
8. In Virginia, which native snake species have reached or exceeded 7 feet in total body length? Which
species have reached or exceeded 8 feet in total body length?
- To date, in Virginia, none of our native snakes have reached the 8 or even 7 foot mark. The
longest wild, native snake ever measured in Virginia was an Eastern Ratsnake
(Pantherophis alleghanensis) that measured 6 feet, 7
inches. In Virginia, the Eastern Ratsnake is the only
snake to reach 6 feet.
9. Can you correctly identify all nine Virginia native snakes?
1. Juvenile Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor
constrictor)
2. Eastern Wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus)
3. Common Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus)
4. Northern Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata
occipitomaculata)
5. Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides)
6. Northern Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi dekayi)
7. Queensnake (Regina septemvittata)
8. Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
9. Northern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii)
10. Do any of our native snakes pray on turkey? If so, which one(s)?
-
The only two native Virginia snake species that
have been documented as preying upon turkey
are the northern pinesnake (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus)
and the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).
Send ideas for Herp Trivia to newsletter editor, Susan Watson, newsletter@vaherpsociety.com.
26
Virginia Native
The purpose of Virginia Native is to highlight native species that deserve recognition. Additional information can
be found on the website of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF).
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/information.
Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)
Spotted salamander
metamorph & larva
Characteristics
This is a fairly large salamander that is gray or black with large, rounded, yellow or orange spots from the head
through the tail. The belly is pale slate without spots or blotches. Adults reach a total length of 4.5-7.75 in (11.2-9.7
cm). The males are slightly slimmer than the females and in the breeding season they may be recognized by the
protuberant vent. With first warm rains they breed in pools with egg masses up to 200. The eggs hatch in 30 to 55
days. During the summer and winter, adults live underground and in early spring they migrate at night to small
woodland ponds to breed. The critical environmental factors affecting the timing of migration appear to be
temperatures above freezing in conjunction with moisture provided either by snow or
Distribution
This salamander occurs statewide in Virginia, with the exception of the far southeastern
portion of the coastal plain and the barrier islands. It inhabits bottomland forests and
floodplains, but may also be found in upland forests with suitable breeding sites (semipermanent pools about 1 m deep). These salamanders are fossorial during the
nonbreeding season and migrate to ponds, streams, or pools to breed..
The canebrake rattlesnake inhabits hardwood and mixed hardwood-pine forests,
cane fields, and the ridges and glades of swampy areas in localized areas of
southeastern Virginia. It overwinters in the base of hollow trees or in stumps.
Foods
Larvae feed on zooplankton, but will also take aquatic insects, isopods, dragonfly larvae and
other small aquatic invertebrates. Adults prey on a variety of terrestrial invertebrates including
earthworms, mollusks, spiders, insects and even other salamanders.
Gravid female
27
Common Name: Spotted salamander
Scientific Name: Ambystoma maculatum
Genus: Amby is Greek for "a cup", stoma is Greek for "a mouth".
Species: maculatum is Latin for "spot" or "spotted".
Average Length: 4.4 – 7.8 in. (11.2 – 19.7 cm)
Record length: 9.8 in. (24.8 cm)
Spotted salamander egg mass

Newsletter V24-N1 - Virginia Herpetological Society

Transcription

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